Singing Waiter Steals the Show

Story by Teresa N. Settle
Photos by Mike Davis

Erin Rotarian Phil Averitt stole the show Thursday night, Nov. 6 at the annual Rotary Spaghetti Dinner and Auction when he belted out the tunes for “Rocky Top” and “The Lollipop Kids” (from the Wizard of Oz), not to mention giving a spectacular Tarzan yell to the delight of over 100 area residents in attendance. Averitt, an avid Alabama fan, was coerced into singing the chorus of “Rocky Top,” by a special $50 donation taken up among the diners.
The event started out like all regular Rotary meetings: with the recitation of the four-way test (led by Rotarian Ken Douglas) and the Pledge of Allegiance. Rotarian Bruce McMillan then invited dinner attendants to join with the “Rotary A cappella Choir” as they sang “God Bless America.” The Rev. Harriett Bryan said the blessing before Erin Rotary President Linda Bratschi welcomed everyone to the event, one of the club’s top fundraisers for the year.
Ticket-holders enjoyed salad, spaghetti with a choice of sauces, Italian bread, and a wide range of desserts. And best of all was the service…
Rotarians pulled the duty of waiting on tables, decked out in white aprons and tall white chef hats. An added benefit was that they were “singing” waiters… taking requests (for an additional $5.00).
Topping off the evening was an auction of items that netted quite a haul, all for good causes, like scholarships, the Rotary park (next to the middle school), clothing, food, and toy drives.
“It’s just a fun night,” stated President Bratschi, describing the event as waiters hustled from table to table, taking drink orders and delivering the food.

Singing Waiters…
Waiting on tables were Rotarians Dr. Jim Branson, Russ James, Tim Cleghern, Jeff Rye, Phil Averitt, Donnie Simmons, Dana Miller (filling in for Judge Sid Vinson who was delayed in Dover), Mitch Mitchum, and Ray Fussell. Other Rotarians also helped out with food, drinks, desserts, and by taking song requests.
While Rotarians may be known for their “service” to others, their singing is another story…
Still, there were numerous requests throughout the evening. Russ James kicked things off nicely by serenading his table with an old college alma mater (something to the effect of My gal’s a hullaballu).
Tim Cleghern really shook things up when he donned Elvis glasses and sideburns to sing a special request made by Scott Bratschi: “I’m a little teapot.” Cleghern thrilled the audience with body movements to mimic the handle and the spout on the teapot as well.
Bratschi, who spurred other requests, said, “I always heard about Tim’s voice. It was more than I expected.”
Bratschi’s dad added that Tim must have gotten his singing from his momma.
Donnie Simmons was asked (i.e. ordered by another $5.00 request) to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”
A nice duet was performed by Mitch Mitchum and Ray Fussell as they belted out “Sweet Home Alabama.” (You guessed it, they’re really UT Vols fans!)
Then Phil Averitt thrilled the crowd with “Rocky Top,” “The Lollipop Kids,” and the Tarzan yell.
Next, Gina Bell rivaled Tanya Tucker as she sang “Delta Dawn.”
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” was… well, sort of sung… by a trio of Billy Ray Cleghern, Webb Mitchum, and Beck Alsobrooks.
Jeff Rye, who works for MLEC, was asked to sing “I am a lineman for the county,” which he had no trouble doing.
Then Bell and Dana Miller sang “You are my sunshine.”
During the auction, one last request was put to Judge Sid Vinson to sing “I’m a little teapot.” His rendition, though not as demonstrative as that of Cleghern earlier, was, nonetheless, hilarious.

Top bidders…
Bidding was fierce at times, funny at times, and downright breathtaking at other times, but all for a good cause. Top bidders (spending $50 or more) were:
* Sylvia Vinson, who bought a Playtime Wonder Doll Set for her granddaughter Kyran (who was also present);
* Grant Gillespie, who paid $255 for end zone tickets to the Titans vs. Colts game. (He dualed it out with Rotarian M.J. McMillan on the bidding.)
* Randy Baggett, who paid $120 for season basketball tickets for Austin Peay games. He later purchased a full-size quilt handstitched by Houston Countians in green, brown, tan, and yellow, for $160;
* Lori Pendergrass, who purchased a beautiful handstitched framed Erin railroad picture done by Donna Carson, for $55. Pendergrass later grabbed an antique-looking pie safe for $110;
* Barbara Alsobrooks, who got a beautiful full-sized quilt in lovely shades of mint greens, creams, and pinks, for $260;
* Randy Gill (the auctioneer himself) who walked away with an autographed Titans football for $85;
* Ruth Herrington, who pocketed a collection of the first 25 state quarters, for $50;
* Russ James, who salivated over a country ham to the tune of $65;
* Becky Averitt, who got a red berry Christmas tree for $55;
* M.J. McMillan, who gave $130 for two Titans tickets with parking to the Titans vs. Buffalo game in December on the 35-yard-line five rows back;
* Art Sloan, who lugged home a 20-inch color TV for $135;
* Bruce McMillan, who bid on an elaborate Christmas sleigh floral arrangement for $60;

Other bidders…
With so many items to choose from, no one had to go home empty handed, or with empty pockets. Plenty of items were up for grabs, and lots of attendees got exceptional value for their money, spending less than $50. Even Miss Houston County (Nikki Wilburn) bid on and got a fall wreath for just a few bucks.
Young Megan Rye couldn’t resist yelling “I want it! I want it!” as a Celtic Cow Parade Collectible, green with gold accent, was put on the auction block. Needless to say, she got it!
And another neat bidding occurrence happened when several people started bidding competitively on a stenciled poem ready for framing entitled “Frettin.” Jimmy Felts made the top bid on it at $30 for Highers, Koonce and Associates. Then he turned around and donated it back to the Rotary Club to be auctioned off again. Teresa Mitchell took it home the second time for $27.50.
In all, there were pictures, books, trinkets, floral arrangements, wreaths, autographed sports memorabilia, knives, candles, vases, throws, pictures, prints, and more, that were auctioned off for a good cause.

Door Prizes
To break up the evening’s entertainment and auction, Rotarians also kept attendants throughout the evening in the hopes they would win a door prize. Lucky winners were: Linda Smithey, Kristy Hinson, Nikki Wilburn, Rhonda Nolen, Lori Oldham, Faye Mobley, Brad Averitt, and Becky Averitt.

Erin Rotary
The Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Erin United Methodist Church. Officers, along with Bratschi, are Vice President Russ James, Secretary-Treasurer Anne Baggett, and Sargent at Arms Phil Averitt. On the Board of Directors are Jim Branson (Recorder), Donnie Simmons, Sid Vinson, Drew Taylor, and Yvette Gillespie.

How you can get involved…
Erin Rotary Club is currently collecting food and toys for needy families for the holidays. There is a display and collection bins inside Erin City Hall, or you may contact Beck Alsobrooks to donate food, or Gina Bell to donate toys. According to President Bratschi, this year’s theme is “Lend a Hand,” and the local club is doing their part. Rotary International is celebrated 100 years in 2005, and the local club has been around since 1950
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